Browsing and selecting content items based on user gestures

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure is directed toward systems and methods that provide users with efficient and effective user experiences when browsing, selecting, or inspecting content items. More specifically, systems and methods described herein provide users the ability to easily and effectively select multiple content items via a single touch gesture (e.g., swipe gesture). Additionally, systems and methods disclosed herein can allow users to select various content items in a selection interface, preview a content item, and return to the selection interface with the previous selections remaining in tact. Still further, systems and methods described herein allow users to transition between a content graphical user interface and a selection interface based on touch gestures with content items.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/262,520 filed Apr. 25, 2014, entitled “BROWSING AND SELECTING CONTENTITEMS BASED ON USER GESTURES”. The aforementioned application is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

One or more embodiments of the present invention relate generally tobrowsing and selecting content items, such as images, videos, musicfiles, etc. More specifically, one or more embodiments of the presentinvention relate to graphical user interfaces that provide enhanced easeof use through the use of touch gestures.

2. Background and Relevant Art

Electronic devices commonly have the ability to send, receive, andproduce electronic multimedia. For example, a smart phone may send andreceive digital photographs. A smart phone may also include a digitalcamera that takes digital photographs. It has become common for smartphone cameras to take pictures with increasing size. These digitalphotographs carry enough information to render bold colors, sharpcontrast, and high levels of visual clarity.

Electronic devices that send, receive, and produce electronic multimedia(i.e., audio files, visual files) also typically have the ability tostore the electronic multimedia. For example, a smart phone that takesdigital photographs can also store those same digital photographs. Overtime, an electronic device may be used to store large amounts ofelectronic multimedia. Users are often dismayed at how quickly the datastorage of their electronic devices is filled.

Additionally, it has become increasingly common for a user to havemultiple electronic devices that send, receive, and generate electronicmedia. A user may have a smart phone, a tablet, and a laptop that areall capable of sending, receiving, and generating electronic media. Forexample, the user may frequently take digital photographs with a smartphone. Then as the data storage on the smart phone fills up, the usermay shuffle some digital photographs off the smartphone onto a laptop.The process of moving electronic media back and forth between electronicdevices in order to free up data storage can be cumbersome and timeconsuming.

For this reason, it is increasingly common for a user to utilizeadditional storage in order to create a central repository for all theelectronic media spread across the user's multiple electronic devices.External hard drives and cloud-based storage are two common types ofadditional storage that are used for this purpose. While utilizingadditional storage may free up data storage on a user's electronicdevices, the process of selecting electronic media files for transfertypically remains cumbersome and time-consuming.

The process of selecting electronic media files for transfer betweenelectronic devices, to additional storage, to social media, or forprinting is typically problematic in several ways. For example, a userwho wants to only select a subset of the electronic media files on theelectronic device must usually select that subset one-by-one. If thisone-by-one selection is being performed on a touch screen of a hand helddevice, the user must typically go through and select each desiredelectronic media file individually. When a hand held device contains alarge number of digital photographs, selecting individual photographscan be time-consuming and otherwise tedious.

Additionally, when a user is selecting individual electronic media filesfrom a list or group of files in a selection interface, it may not beimmediately clear what the electronic media is from the name of theelectronic media file. For example, digital photographs are generallystored in files that are simply named with a timestamp that matches thedate and time the digital photograph was taken. This naming conventiongenerally offers no information as to the content or quality of thedigital photograph. For this reason it has become common for selectioninterfaces to include thumbnail images.

Even though a thumbnail image includes a version of the image, thethumbnail image is usually not large enough to see the details of theimage. This is especially true when several files are very similar. Inorder to see the details of the image, a user will generally open alarger preview of the image. Unfortunately, opening the larger previewtypically requires the user to exit the selection interface. This isproblematic when the user has already selected multiple files, asleaving the selection interface typically causes all the previously madeselections to disappear upon returning to the selection interface. Theprocess of selecting, opening for inspection, and re-selecting istypically cumbersome, lengthy, and inefficient.

In addition to the foregoing, traditional user interfaces traditionallyrequire various buttons or toolbars to transition between different userinterfaces or to perform other actions. Such buttons and toolbars canclutter user interfaces and otherwise detract from a user experience.For example, the inclusion of buttons and toolbars can reduce theavailable space for displaying photographs or other content items. Theclutter due to buttons and toolbars is magnified when the user interfaceis presented on a hand-held or other device with a limited display size.

Thus, there are several disadvantages to current methods and system forbrowsing, selecting, and inspecting electronic files using conventionaluser interfaces.

SUMMARY

One or more embodiments of the present invention provide benefits and/orsolve one or more of the foregoing or other problems in the art withsystems and methods that provide users with efficient and effective userexperiences when browsing, selecting, or inspecting content items. Forexample, one or more embodiments provide a user the ability to easilyand effectively select content items by interacting with a userinterface via one or more touch gestures. In particular, systems andmethods described herein can allow a user to select multiple contentitems with a single user action or touch gesture. This can allow a userto quickly select a subset of content items to share, print, or movewithout having to individually select (e.g., tap on each content item).

Additionally, one or more embodiments can provide a user the ability toeasily and effectively inspect content items during a selection process.For instance, one or more embodiments allow a user to preview contentitems directly from a selection interface. Furthermore, systems andmethods disclosed herein can allow a user to preview content itemswithout disturbing the selection state of other content items, therebysaving the user the time and hassle of having to reselect content itemsafter previewing a file. For example, one or more embodiments allow auser to select various content items in a selection interface, previewone or more content items, and return to the selection interface withthe previous selections remaining in tact.

In addition to the foregoing, systems and methods of one or moreembodiments provide a user with the ability to efficiently andeffectively navigate between various user interfaces. For example, oneor more embodiments allow a user to transition between a contentgraphical user interface and a selection interface based on touchgestures with content items. In other words, one or more embodimentsallow a user to transition between various user interfaces withouthaving to interface with user buttons or toolbars. As such, one or moreembodiments can reduce user interface clutter by eliminating or reducingbutton and toolbars.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will be setforth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious fromthe description, or may be learned by the practice of such exemplaryembodiments. The features and advantages of such embodiments may berealized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinationsparticularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and otherfeatures will become more fully apparent from the following descriptionand appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of such exemplaryembodiments as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and otheradvantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a moreparticular description of the invention briefly described above will berendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that areillustrated in the appended drawings. It should be noted that thefigures are not drawn to scale, and that elements of similar structureor function are generally represented by like reference numerals forillustrative purposes throughout the figures. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are nottherefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the inventionwill be described and explained with additional specificity and detailthrough the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a content management system inaccordance with one or more embodiments;

FIGS. 2A-2B illustrates content graphical user interface displayingcontent items in accordance with one or more embodiments;

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate a transitioning between a content graphical userinterface and a selection graphical user interface in accordance withone or more embodiments;

FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate a transitioning between another content graphicaluser interface and a selection graphical user interface in accordancewith one or more embodiments;

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate a user selecting multiple content items with asingle user interaction in accordance with one or more embodiments;

FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate a user inverting the selection state of multiplecontent items with a single user interaction in accordance with one ormore embodiments;

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate a transitioning between a selection graphicaluser interface, an enlarged view of a content item, and again to theselection graphical user interface while maintaining the selection stateof multiple content items in accordance with one or more embodiments;

FIG. 8A illustrates a selection graphical user interface displayingsimilar content items in accordance with one or more embodiments;

FIG. 8B illustrates a content graphical user interface omitting thedisplay of similar content items in accordance with one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart of a series of acts in a method ofselecting multiple content items with a single user action or gesture inaccordance with one or more embodiments;

FIG. 10 illustrates a flowchart of a series of acts in a method oftransitioning between a selection graphical user interface and anenlarged view of a content item in accordance with one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart of a series of acts in a method ofenlarging a content item in accordance with one or more embodiments;

FIG. 12 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary computing device inaccordance with one or more embodiments; and

FIG. 13 illustrates a network environment of an online contentmanagement system in accordance with one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more embodiments of the present invention include a contentmanagement system that provides users with efficient and effective userexperiences when browsing, selecting, or inspecting content items. Morespecifically, one or more embodiments provide a user the ability toeasily and effectively select content items by interacting with a userinterface via one or more touch gestures. In particular, systems andmethods described herein can allow a user to select multiple contentitems with a single user action or touch gesture. For example, thecontent management system can allow a user to select multiple contentitems using a swipe gesture. Thus, the content management system canallow a user to quickly select a subset of content items to share,print, or move without having to individually select (e.g., tap on eachcontent item).

Additionally, one or more embodiments can provide a user the ability toeasily and effectively inspect content items during a selection process.For instance, one or more embodiments allow a user to preview contentitems directly from a selection interface. Furthermore, systems andmethods disclosed herein can allow a user to preview content itemswithout disturbing the selection state of other content items, therebysaving the user the time and hassle of having to reselect content itemsafter previewing a file. For example, one or more embodiments allow auser to select various content items in a selection interface, previewone or more content items, and return to the selection interface withthe previous selections remaining in tact.

In addition to the foregoing, content management system can provide auser with the ability to efficiently and effectively navigate betweenvarious user interfaces. For example, one or more embodiments allow auser to transition between a content graphical user interface and aselection interface based on touch gestures with content items. In otherwords, one or more embodiments allow a user to transition betweenvarious user interfaces without having to interface with user buttons ortoolbars. As such, one or more embodiments can reduce user interfaceclutter by eliminating or reducing button and toolbars.

As used herein, a “digital content item” (or simply “content item”)refers to digital data. In one or more embodiments, a content item caninclude a data file. Additional examples of content items include, butare not limited to, digital photos, digital video, digital audio,document files of all types, streaming content, contact lists, and/orfolders that include one or more digital content items.

A “collection of digital content items” (or simply “collection”), asused herein, refers to one or more content items associated with one ormore users. A collection can include a single type of content item ormultiple different types of content items. In addition, a collection caninclude as few as one content item, but in many instances, a collectioncan include large numbers of content items.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of a content management system100. As shown, content management system 100 may include, but is notlimited to, user interface provider 102, user input detector 104,display element manager 106, communication manager 107, and data storage108. Each of components 102-108 of content management system 100 may bein communication with one another using any suitable communicationtechnologies. One will appreciate in light of the disclosure herein thatalthough components 102-108 are shown to be separate in FIG. 1, any ofcomponents 102-108 may be combined into fewer components, such as into asingle facility or module, or divided into more components as may servea particular embodiment. In addition, components 102-108 may be locatedon, or implemented by, one or more computing devices, such as thosedescribed below in relation to FIG. 12. Alternatively, portions ofcontent management system 100 can be located on a computing device,while other portions of content management system 100 are located on, orform part of, an online content management system, such as thatdescribed below in reference to FIG. 13.

Components 102-108 can comprise software, hardware, or both. Forexample, components 102-108 can comprise one or more instructions storedon a computer readable storage medium and executable by processors ofone or more computing devices. When executed by the one or moreprocessors, the computer-executable instructions of content managementsystem 100 can cause a computing device(s) to perform the methodsdescribed herein. Alternatively, components 102-108 can comprisehardware, such as a special purpose processing device to perform acertain function or group of functions. Additionally or alternatively,components 102-108 can comprise a combination of computer-executableinstructions and hardware.

As mentioned above, and as shown in FIG. 1, content management system100 can include user interface provider 102. User interface provider 102can provide, manage, and/or control graphical user interfaces (or simply“user interfaces”) that allow a user to view and interact with contentitems. For example, user interface provider 102 may display or otherwiseprovide various user interfaces that contain one or more content itemsin various layouts.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, user interfaceprovider 102 can provide a content graphical user interface. As usedherein, the term “content graphical user interface” refers to a userinterface that allows a user to browse or navigate a plurality ofcontent items accessible to the user. For example, a content graphicaluser interface can display one or more content items in various sizesand at various positions in order to create a visually distinct display.In one or more embodiments, content items may be accessible to the uservia the device upon which user interface provider 102 displays a contentgraphical user interface, and/or via remote storage available over anetwork connection (i.e., an online content management system asdescribed below in reference to FIG. 13).

More specifically, user interface provider 102 can provide (e.g., by wayof a display screen associated with a computing device) a variety ofinteractive elements within the user interface. For example, userinterface provider 102 may cause a computing device to present aplurality of graphical objects that represent content items. Forinstance, user interface provider 102 can present reduced-size versionsof content items, such as thumbnails or icons. In one or moreembodiments, user interface provider 102 can present reduced-sizeversions of content items in a gallery formatted in a grid within a viewarea of a user interface as described below.

The user interface provider 102 can also provide a selection graphicaluser interface. As used herein, the term “selection graphical userinterface” refers to a user interface that allows a user to select oneor more content items. For example, a selection graphical user interfacecan allow a user to select one or more content items for transferbetween electronic devices, to additional storage, to social media, forprinting, or otherwise. The selection graphical user interface candisplay one or more content items.

User interface provider 102 can also redistribute one or more contentitems when transitioning between user interfaces. For example, and aswill be described in more detail below, a user may perform one or moreactions in response to which, the user interfaces provider cantransition between user interfaces. Upon transitioning from one userinterface to another, user interface provider 102 may redistribute theone or more content items or modify their position or sizes.

As mentioned above, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, content managementsystem 100 may further include user input detector 104. User inputdetector 104 detects, receives, and/or facilitates user input in anysuitable manner. In some examples, user input detector 104 detects oneor more user interactions. As referred to herein, a “user interaction”means a single input, or combination of inputs, received from a user byway of one or more input devices. A user interaction can have variableduration and may take place anywhere on the graphical user interfaceprovided by user interface provider 102 described above.

For example, user input detector 104 can detect a user interaction froma keyboard, mouse, touch screen, or any other input device. In the eventa touch screen is utilized, user input detector 104 can detect one ormore touch gestures that form a user interaction (e.g., tap gestures,swipe gestures, pinch gestures, or reverse pinch gestures) provided by auser by way of the touch screen. In some examples, the user inputdetector 104 can detect touch gestures in relation to and/or directed atone or more content items displayed as part of a user interfacepresented on the touch screen.

User input detector 104 may additionally, or alternatively, receive datarepresentative of a user interaction. For example, user input detector104 may receive one or more user configurable parameters from a user,one or more user commands from the user, and/or any other suitable userinput. For example, the user input detector can receive voice commandsor otherwise sense, detect, or receive user input.

As mentioned above, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, user interface system100 may further include display element manager 106. Display elementmanager 106 can utilize the user input detected by user input detector104 in order to manage elements of the display. For example, displayelement manager 106 can utilize detected user inputs to manage contentitems displayed in a graphical user interface. In one or moreembodiments, one or more content items are selectable. Display elementmanager 106 may utilize detected user input to update the selectionstate of one or more content items. To illustrate, in a particularembodiment of the present invention, display element manager 106utilizes a detected touch gesture to update the selection state of acontent item from an unselected state to a selected state or vice versa.

The content management system 100 may further include communicationmanager 107. Communication manager 107 can facilitate receiving andsending data to and from content management system 100, or a device uponwhich the content management system 100 is implemented. In particular,communication manager 107 can facilitate sending and receiving ofcontent items. For example, communication manager 107 can instruct oractivate one or more communication interfaces of a computing device, asdescribed below to send or receive data. Furthermore, communicationmanager 107 can package or format content items to be sent or receivedfrom content management system 100 in any necessary form that is able tobe sent through one or more communication channels and using anappropriate communication protocol, as described further below withreference to FIG. 13.

As discussed above, user interface system 100 can include data storage108, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Data storage 108 may maintain contentitem data 110 representative of data associated with content items. Forexample, content item data 110 can include content item files, metadataassociated with content items, reduced-sized files, and other similartype data that content management system 100 may use in connection withpresenting a collection of content items by way of a user interface. Inparticular, content item data 110 can include information that allowscontent management system 100 to organize or display content items. Inone or more embodiments, content item data 110 may be stored on a clientdevice, and/or may be stored on remote storage available over a networkconnection (i.e., an online content management system as described belowin reference to FIG. 13).

Data storage 108 can also include selection state data 112. Selectionstate data 112 can include an indication of whether particular contentitems have a selected state or an unselected state. Furthermore, asdescribed in greater detail below, the data forming the selection statedata 112 can comprise persistent data. In other words, the contentmanagement system 100 can maintain selection state data 112 irrespectiveof whether a selection graphical user interface or other user interfaceis currently in display.

As will be described in more detail below, each of components 102-112can provide, alone and/or in combination with the other components ofthe content management system 100, one or more graphical userinterfaces. In particular, components 102-112 can allow a user tointeract with a collection of content items to inspect and selectcontent items for a variety of purposes. In particular, FIGS. 3-8B andthe description that follows illustrate various example embodiments ofthe user interfaces and features that in accordance with generalprinciples of described above.

In some examples, a computing device can implement part or all ofcontent management system 100. For example, FIG. 2A illustratescomputing device 200 that may implement one or more of components102-112 of content management system 100. As illustrated in FIG. 2A,computing device 200 is a handheld device, such as a mobile phone device(e.g., a smartphone). As used herein, the term “handheld device” refersto device sized and configured to be held/operated in a single hand of auser. In additional or alternative examples, however, any other suitablecomputing device, such as, but not limited to, a tablet device, ahandheld device, larger wireless devices, a laptop or desktop computer,a personal-digital assistant device, and/or any other suitable computingdevice can perform one or more of the processes and/or operationsdescribed herein.

Computing device 200 can include any of the features and componentsdescribed below in reference to computing device 1200 of FIG. 12. Asillustrated in FIG. 2A, computing device 200 includes a touch screen 202that can display or provide user interfaces and by way of which userinput may be received and/or detected. Additionally or alternatively,computing device 200 may include any other suitable input device, suchas a touch pad or those described below in reference to FIG. 12.

FIG. 2A illustrates touch screen 202 of computing device 200 displayingone embodiment of a content graphical user interface, in particular atimeline graphical user interface 206. As mentioned above, a contentgraphical user interface can display content items and allow a user toview or browse a collection of content items accessible to the user. Forease in description, the figures and the following description includecontent items that are digital photographs or thumbnail image versionsof digital photographs. One will appreciate in light of the disclosureherein that alternative embodiments can include additional or differentcontent items, such as music files, video files, data files, or otherdata as described herein.

Timeline graphical user interface 206 includes a view area 204displaying multiple content items 208 arranged in a navigable grid. Atimeline graphical user interface 206 refers to a content graphical userinterface in which content items are arranged in a timeline orchronologically. For example, timeline graphical user interface 206positions the oldest content items at one end (e.g., the bottom) and thenewest digital photos near an opposing end (e.g., the top). A user cannavigate though content items 208 by moving content items 208 verticallythrough view area 204. In one embodiment, the user can interact withview area 204 using vertical swipe gestures to browse the content items208. In particular, as a user swipes vertically up or down, contentitems 208 can move into and out of view area 204.

One will appreciate that timeline graphical user interface 206 is onlyone example of a content graphical user interface. In alternativeembodiments, content graphical user interfaces are arranged using other,or multiple, ordering schemes. For example, content graphical userinterfaces can include content items arranged by date, location, size,origin device, type, subject matter of the content item (i.e., people,places, topics) and any other content item characteristic.

In any event, in one or more embodiments content graphical userinterfaces can group content items to aid in user browsing. Furthermore,content graphical user interfaces can include headings to identifygroups of content items. For example, FIG. 2A illustrates that timelinegraphical user interface 206 includes a date indicator 210 heading. Dateindicator 210 displays a date associated with one or more content items208 in view area 204. For example, when content items 208 are thumbnailimages associated with photograph files, date indicator 210 can comprisea date upon which each photograph file was created (e.g., when eachpicture was taken). Date indicator 210 may also include an indication ofhow many content items 208 are associated with the date shown (i.e.,“15”). In alternative embodiments, headings can comprise anotherindication of how content items are grouped. For example, when contentitems are grouped by location (i.e., where the photographs were taken),the headings can comprise a name of a location. In alternativeembodiments, the headings can comprise names of individual or subjectmatter, event names, or other group identifiers.

Content graphical user interfaces can arrange content items in avisually pleasing manner. For example, FIG. 2A illustrates that timelinegraphical user interface 206 displays content items 208 at variouslocations and in a variety of sizes. Some content items 208 are square,while other content items 208 are rectangular. Additionally, somecontent items 208 are small, while other content items 208 are large.One will appreciate that in alternative embodiments the content items208 can each have the same size, shape, or orientation. Furthermore, inone or more embodiments a user can select or otherwise configure anappearance (size, shape, etc.) of content items 208.

For example, a user can press and hold a particular content item 208 toresize the content item 208. In particular, the user input detector 104can detect duration of the press and hold and the user interfaceprovider 102 can size the content item 208 based on the duration of thepress and hold. Alternatively, a user can resize content items 208 in acontent user interface using a pinch out gesture. For example, the userinput detector 104 can detect a size of a pinch out gesture and the userinterface provider 102 can size the content item 208 based on the sizeof the pinch out gesture.

When browsing a collection, a user may desire to preview a content item208. For example, in the context of digital photos a user may desire toview an enlarged version of a thumbnail image. In the context of videosor music, a user may desire to hear or see a sample portion of thecontent item. Content management system 100 can allow a user to previewcontent items 208. In particular, upon a user performing a first userinteraction on a content item 208 a, content management system 100 canprovide a preview of content item 208 a. For example, upon a usertapping a content item 208 a, content management system 100 can providea preview of the content item 208 a. For example, FIG. 2B illustratesthat content management system 100 can open an enlarged view 211 ofcontent item 208 a. In alternative embodiments, a pinch out or otheruser interaction or gesture can cause content management system 100 toprovide a preview of a content item 208 a.

The enlarged view 211 of content item 208 a can allow a user to moreeasily inspect content item 208 a. As illustrated by FIG. 2B, in one ormore embodiments, the enlarged view 211 of content item 208 a canentirely fill the view area 204. In alternative embodiments, theenlarged view 211 of content item 208 a can fill only a portion (e.g.,¾, ½, ¼) of view area 204.

Content management system 100 can also close the enlarged view ofcontent item 208 a and return to timeline graphical user interface 206.In particular, upon a user performing a predetermined user interactionon a content item 208 a, content management system 100 can close thepreview of content item 208 a. In one or more embodiments thepredetermined user interaction to close the preview can be the same userinteraction that caused content system 100 to open the preview. Forexample, upon a user tapping the enlarged view 211 of content item 208a, content management system 100 can close the enlarged view 211 andtransition to timeline graphical user interface 206 or another contentgraphical user interface. In alternative embodiments, a pinch in orother user interaction or gesture can cause content management system100 to close a preview of content item 208 a. Still further the enlargedview 211 can include an “X” box or other UI element that the user canselect to close the enlarged view 211. Alternatively or additionally,content management system 100 can close the enlarged view 211 withoutuser interaction after a predetermined amount of time.

One will appreciate that timeline graphical user interface 206 (andother content graphical user interfaces) can allow a user to browsevarious content items 208 in a collection. A user may desire to selectvarious content items. For example, upon browsing content items 208 viatimeline graphical user interface 206, a user may desire to printvarious content items 208, share various content items via a socialnetwork, delete various content items, or otherwise select one or morecontent items 208 to perform a desired function with the content items208. In order to allow a user to select content items, contentmanagement system 100 can transition from timeline graphical userinterface 206 to a selection graphical user interface that allows a userto select content items.

As shown by FIG. 2A, timeline graphical user interface 206 can include aselect element 212. User selection of select element 212, contentmanagement system 100 can initiate a transitioning from timelinegraphical user interface 206 to a selection graphical user interface.One will appreciate that as select element 212 is located at a top endof timeline graphical user interface 206, a user may need to move afinger or other input device across the view area 204 in order to selectthe select element 212. When a user is manipulating the computing device200 in a single hand, reaching select element 212 may be difficult orawkward.

In one or more embodiments, content management system 100 can transitionfrom timeline graphical user interface 206 (or another content graphicaluser interface) to a selection graphical user interface upon detecting apredetermined user interaction with a content item 208 or other portionof the view area 204. For example, FIG. 3A illustrates upon a performinga press and hold gesture on a content item 208 using a finger 312,content management system 100 can transition from timeline graphicaluser interface 206 (FIG. 3A) to selection graphical user interface 306(FIG. 3B). In alternative embodiments, a double tap, a triple tap, a tapwith two fingers, a horizontal swipe, or other user interaction orgesture can cause content management system 100 to transition fromtimeline graphical user interface 206 (FIG. 3A) to selection graphicaluser interface 306 (FIG. 3B).

One will appreciate in light of the disclosure herein that allowing auser to perform a predetermined interaction or touch gesture on acontent item 208 or another spot in the view area 204 to transition toselection graphical user interface 306 more easily allow a user to openselection graphical user interface 306. In particular, a user need notreach select element 212 at a top of the timeline graphical userinterface 206 but rather can use any portion of the user interface toperform the predetermined interaction or touch gesture. Thus, thecontent management system 100 can allow a user to easy transitionbetween user interfaces or modes using a single hand. Furthermore, inone or more embodiments content graphical user interfaces, such astimeline graphical user interface 206, can omit select element 212 toreduce UI clutter and provide increased space for displaying contentitems 208.

In one or more embodiments, the user interaction or touch gesture thatcauses content management system 100 to transition from timelinegraphical user interface 206 (FIG. 3A) to selection graphical userinterface 306 (FIG. 3B) can be different from the user interaction ortouch gesture that causes content management system 100 to provide apreview of a content item 208. For example, a single tap on a contentitem 208 in a content graphical user interface can cause contentmanagement system 100 to open a view, while a double tap or press andhold on the same content item 208 can cause content management system100 to transition to selection graphical user interface 306. As such,the user input detector 104 can recognize or distinguish betweendifferent user interactions. For example, user input detector 104 candetect a duration of a user interaction to determine if the userinteraction is a tap or a press and hold. Along related lines, userinput detector 104 can determine a surface area affected (i.e., touched)by a user interaction to distinguish between a single finger tap ordouble or triple finger tap. In any event, user input detector 104 candetect and identify user interactions and perform an action based onwhich user interaction or gesture is detected or identified.

As shown by FIG. 3B, in one or more embodiments transitioning toselection graphical user interface 306 can involve resizing and/orredistributing one or more content items 208. For example, selectiongraphical user interface 306 can include content items 208 each sized toa default square configuration as shown in FIG. 3B. Alternatively,selection graphical user interface 306 can leave content items 208 inthe same configuration as timeline graphical user interface 206 (FIG.3A).

In any event, selection graphical user interface 306 can allow a user toselect or un-select content items 208 via one or more user interactionsor touch gestures. For example, each content item 208 in selectiongraphical user interface 306 can include a first selection indicator 314a or second selection indicator 314 b. Selection indicators can comprisean icon or other graphical user element that can indicate a selectionstate (i.e., selected or unselected). For example, FIG. 3B illustratesthat the first selection indicator 314 a comprises an empty circle andcan indicate that an associated content item 208 has a selection stateof un-selected. In alternative embodiments, the first selectionindicator 314 a can comprise an empty square, another icon, or anabsence of a second selection indicator 314 b. Second selectionindicator 314 b can comprise a checkmark and can indicate that anassociated content item 208 has a selection state of selected. Inalternative embodiments, the second selection indicator 314 b cancomprise a border around a content item 208, a bolding or highlightingof a content item 208, changing the color scheme (e.g., to color, blackand white, or sepia), altering image brightness and color saturation, orresizing the image, or other icon or visual effect.

Selection graphical user interface 306 can further include one or moreselectable selection mode operation options 316. Selection modeoperation options 316 can provide the user with options as to how tohandle the selected content items 208. For example, selection modeoperation options 316 can allow a user to share, move, edit, rename,group, copy, delete, or undergo any other file transfer/transformationaction.

As previously mentioned, timeline graphical user interface 206 is oneexample of a content graphical user interface. FIG. 4A illustratesanother example of a content graphical user interface 406. Contentgraphical user interface 406 is a general content graphical userinterface in which content items 208 are randomly arranged or arrangedby an order of addition to the collection of content items 208. As such,content graphical user interface 406 does not include a heading, such asdate indicator 210.

As shown in FIG. 4A, content graphical user interface 406 does notinclude a select element 212. As such in order to transition toselection graphical user interface 306, a user may perform apredetermined user interaction on a content item 208 or another spotwithin view area 204 as explained above in relation to transitioningbetween time user interface 206 and selection graphical user interface306. For example, FIG. 4A illustrates upon a performing a press and holdgesture on a content item using a finger 312, content management system100 can transition from content graphical user interface 406 (FIG. 4A)to selection graphical user interface 306 (FIG. 4B). In alternativeembodiments, a double tap, a triple tap, a tap with two fingers, ahorizontal swipe, or other or other user interaction or gesture cancause content management system 100 to transition from content graphicaluser interface 406 (FIG. 4A) to selection graphical user interface 306(FIG. 4B).

In order to signal the transition from one type of user interface toanother type of user interface, content management system 100 canprovide an animation. For example, and as illustrated by FIGS. 4A and4B, the transition from content graphical user interface 406 toselection graphical user interface 306 may be accompanied by a pulseanimation. As shown in FIG. 4B, user interface provider 102 can causecontent items 208 to become momentarily smaller from their original size(indicated by dashed line boxes around each content item 208). The pulseanimation can last a short time before the user interface provider 102returns content items 208 to their original size. When the pulseanimation ends, content items 208 are with selection indicators 314 a,314 b. In alternative embodiments the animation accompanying atransition between user interfaces can comprise a wobble, a rotation, afade in and fade out, or other animation.

As previously mentioned, content management system 100 can allow a userto select or unselect content items 208 while in selection graphicaluser interface 306. In particular, upon a user performing apredetermined user interaction on a content item 208, content managementsystem 100 can change a selection state of the content item 208. Forexample, upon a user tapping a content item 208 a, content managementsystem 100 can invert a selection state of the affected content item 208a. For example, FIG. 5A illustrates that content management system 100can change a selection state of content item 208 a from unselected toselected (indicated by changing first selection indicator 314 a tosecond selection indicator 314 b) upon detecting a user tap on contentitem 208 a. Furthermore, upon changing a content item from unselect toselect, or vice versa, user interface provider 102 can update aselection count 513 that indicates a total number of content items 208currently selected. In alternative embodiments, a double tap or otheruser interaction or gesture can cause content management system 100 tochange or invert a selection state of a content item 208.

In addition to selection a single content item at a time, contentmanagement system 100 can allow a user to select multiple content items208 with a single user interaction or touch gesture. For example, asillustrated by FIG. 5B, a user can make a swipe gesture as indicated byarrow 514. The user input detector 104 can detect the user interaction(i.e., swipe 514) and can identify each content item 208 a, 208 b, 208 caffected by the swipe gesture 514. A content item is affected by a swipegesture when the swipe gesture crosses or touches any portion of thecontent item. For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, a swipe gesture 514 maystart at content item 208 a in the corner of the top row of contentitems 208 and move across the top row touching or crossing content items208 b and 208 c. Content management system 100 can invert a selectionstate of each of the affected content items 208 a, 208 b, 208 c. Whendisplay element manager 106 recognizes a content item 208 as beingselected, user interface provider 102 causes the selection indicator 314a associated with the selected content item 208 a, 208 b, 208 c tochange to a display a checkmark, as shown. In this way, a user mayselect multiple content items 208 with a single touch gesture.

User input detector 104 can thus detect a starting point of a swipegesture (i.e., an initial touch point), a path of the swipe gesture, andan ending point (i.e., lift off point) of the swipe gesture. User inputdetector 104 can then determine each content item 208 touched by thestarting point, path, and ending point of the swipe gesture. User inputdetector 104 can then indicate the affected content items 208 to displayelement manager 106, which can then invert a selection state of eachaffected content item 208.

FIG. 5B illustrates a horizontal swipe gesture, but it will beunderstood that a swipe gesture may also include vertical, diagonal, orcombination thereof. For example, in another embodiment, the selectiongraphical user interface 306 may include a scroll lock that locks viewarea 204 from scrolling vertically. When view area 204 is locked in thismanner, vertical swipes may be permitted because they would not beinterpreted as an attempt to scroll content items 208 through the viewarea 204. A user can activate the scroll lock by selection of agraphical user interface element or by performing a predeterminedgesture.

In alternative embodiments selection graphical user interface 306 caninclude a scroll bar that allows a user to scroll content items 208through view area 204. In particular, a user can press and slide thescroll bar along a scroll path to cause content items 208 to passthrough view area 204. In such embodiments, user input detector 104 canidentify any or all content items 208 affected by any type of swipegesture (horizontal, vertical, diagonal, other patterns, or combinationsthereof). For example, user input detector 104 can detect an S-shapedswipe that starts at the end of row, moves across the row, moves to thenext row down, and continues back in the other direction. In thismanner, an uninterrupted S-shaped swipe may eventually moveback-and-forth across all content items 208 in the view area 204. In aparticular embodiment, a user can select all content items 208 in theview area 204 with an S-shaped swipe, scroll the view area 204 untilunselected content items 208 are displayed, and continue the S-shapedswipe to select further content items 208. Other swipe patterns mayinclude square-shaped swipes, X-shaped swipes, zig-zag-shaped swipes,etc.

In still further embodiments, user input detector 104 can detect adirection of a swipe gesture. If the swipe gesture is horizontal orwithin a predetermined range of degrees from horizontal (i.e., 0 degreesto 45 degrees), display element manager 106 can invert a selection stateof each content item 208 affected by the swipe gesture. If the swipegesture is vertical or within a predetermined range of degrees fromvertical (i.e., 0 degrees to 44 degrees), user interface provider 102can scroll content items 208 through view area 204 rather than selectingcontent items 208.

One will appreciate in light of the disclosure herein that “horizontal”and “vertical” directions can be arbitrary. For example, a user canrotate computing device 200. Upon rotation a “horizontal” direction canbecome a “vertical” direction. In such embodiments, horizontal swipescan scroll content items 208 through view area 204, while verticalswipes select content items 208. Alternatively, even in an uprightposition (as shown by FIGS. 2A-8B), horizontal swipes can scroll contentitems 208 through view area 204, while vertical swipes select contentitems 208.

As noted above, content management system 100 can invert a selectionstate of any content items 208 affected by a swipe gesture, a tapgesture, or other predetermined gesture made in selection graphical userinterface 306. In particular, if an affected content item 208 has aninitial selection state of unselected, content management system 100 caninvert (i.e., change) the selection state from unselected to selected.Along related lines, if an affected content item 208 has an initialselection state of selected, content management system 100 can invert(i.e., change) the selection state from selected to unselected.

For example, and as shown in FIG. 6A, upon a user tapping content item208 d with a finger 312, content management system 100 can invert (i.e.,change) the selection state from unselected to selected, as indicated bysecond selection indicator 314 b (i.e., a checkmark). As shown in FIG.6B, upon a user performing a swipe gesture 614 across content items 208e, 208 d, 208 f, content management system 100 can invert (i.e., change)the selection state of each affected content item 208 d, 208 e, 208 f.In particular, content management system 100 can invert a selectionstate of each of content items 208 e, 208 f from unselected to selected,as indicated by second selection indicator 314 b (i.e., a checkmark). Onthe other hand, content management system 100 can invert a selectionstate of content item 208 d selected to unselected, as indicated byfirst selection indicator 314 a (i.e., no checkmark).

In one or more alternative embodiments, upon a user performing a swipegesture across multiple content items, content management system 100 canchange the selection state of each affected content item to match theselection state of the first content item affected by the swipe gesture.For example, a swipe gesture starting at a first content item, with aselection state that is selected, may cause the selection state of theother content items affected by the swipe gesture to change to selected.Alternately, a swipe gesture starting at a first content item, with aselection state that is unselected, may cause the selection state of theother content items affected by the swipe gesture to change tounselected.

In still further embodiments, upon a user performing a swipe gestureacross multiple content items, content management system 100 can changethe selection state of each affected content item to selected. Thus, ifcontent items are previously selected, content management system 100 mayleave them selected despite the swipe gesture affecting (i.e., touching)the previously selected content items. On the other hand, the contentmanagement system 100 can change the selection state of each affectedcontent item with an unselected state to a selected state.

As mentioned previously, a user may desire to preview or otherwiseinspect a content item 208 in order to decide whether they want toselect the content item 208. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A and7B, when a user is presented with a gallery of content items 208 (i.e.,thumbnail images), the user may desire to more closely inspect athumbnail image before selecting it. One or more embodiments can allow auser to inspect or preview a content item 208 without affectingpreviously selected content items 208. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A,selection graphical user interface 306 can include a subset of contentitems 208 in a selected state, as indicated by second selectionindicators 314 b.

At this point, the user may desire a closer look at content item 208 a.Content management system 100 can allow a user to preview content items208 directly from selection graphical user interface 306. In particular,upon a user performing a predetermined user interaction on a contentitem 208 a, content management system 100 can provide a preview ofcontent item 208 a. For example, upon a user performing a press and holdon content item 208 a, content management system 100 can provide apreview of the content item 208 a.

When user's finger 312 touches content item 208 a, user input detector104 detects the input as well as the duration of the input. When theduration of the input exceeds a threshold amount of time, user inputdetector 104 reports a press-and-hold gesture to user interface provider102. A tap-and hold gesture can cause user interface provider 102 toprovide an enlarged view 211 of the affected content item, in this casecontent item 208 a. As shown in FIG. 7B, when user interface provider102 provides an enlarged view 211 of content item 208 a, the enlargedview can fill view area 204. It is understood that in other embodiments,an enlarged view 211 of a content item may not fill the entire view area204, but rather may be a different size, such as double the size of athumbnail image in selection graphical user interface 306. It will alsobe understood that the enlarged view 211 of a content item is a scaledversion of a thumbnail image, or in another embodiment, may be takenfrom the underlying file indicated by the content item. For example, ifthe underlying file indicated by a content item is a high resolutionphotograph, the content item may illustrate a low resolution version ofthe photograph, while the enlarged view may show the high resolutionphotograph taken from the underlying file.

As shown in FIG. 7B, user interface provider 106 can provide theenlarged version 211 of content item 208 a until user input detector 104detects a release of the press-and-hold gesture. At that point, userinterface provider 102 can transition from the enlarged view 211 back toselection graphical user interface 306 as shown in FIG. 7C. It will benoted that display element manager 106 maintains the selection state ofall content items 208 throughout the transition from selection graphicaluser interface 306 to enlarged view 211 back to selection graphical userinterface 306. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A various content items208 are selected, as indicated by selection indicators 314 b. When, asshown in FIG. 7C, the user's finger 312 releases the press-and-holdgesture, the user interface provider 102 transitions back to selectiongraphical user interface 306 and the same content items 208 are stilldisplayed by user interface provider 102 as being selected.

In one or more alternate embodiments, the selection state of a contentitem can change when the user interface provider 102 provides anenlarged version of the content item. For example, when, as shown inFIG. 7C, the user's finger 312 releases the press-and-hold gesture, andthe user interface provider 102 transitions back to selection graphicaluser interface 306, the selection state of content item 208 a may changeto selected (not shown in FIG. 7C), even though the selection state ofcontent item 208 a was unselected prior to the press-and-hold gesture.In this way, a user can both inspect and select a content item via thesame touch gesture.

It will be understood that in other embodiments of the presentinvention, the user input detector 104 can associate different types ofuser interactions with a command to enlarge a given content item. Forexample, user input detector 104 can recognize a user interaction whichcauses the enlarged view 211 to provided for a given amount of time. Forexample, content management system 100 can provide an enlarged view forten seconds following a double tap of a content item from selectiongraphical user interface 306. In yet another embodiment, upon user inputdetector 104 recognizing a spread gesture from a user (i.e., a reversepinch gesture), content management system 100 can provide the enlargedview 211 of the affected content item 208 a. Content management system100 can provide the enlarged view 211 for a predetermined amount oftime. Alternatively, a user interaction (such as pinch gesture) cancause content management system 100 to close the enlarged view 211 andreturn to selection graphical user interface 306.

In one or more embodiments, the user interaction or touch gesture thatcauses content management system 100 to transition from selectiongraphical user interface 306 (FIG. 7A) to the enlarged view 211 ofcontent item 208 a (FIG. 7B) can be different from the user interactionor touch gesture that causes content management system 100 to invert aselection state of a content item 208. For example, a single tap on acontent item 208 in a selection graphical user interface 306 can causecontent management system 100 to invert a selection state of a contentitem 298, while a spread or press and hold on the same content item 208a can cause content management system 100 to transition to an enlargedview 211 or other preview of content item 208 a. As such, the user inputdetector 104 can recognize or distinguish between different userinteractions. For example, user input detector 104 can detect a durationof a user interaction to determine if the user interaction is a tap or apress and hold. Along related lines, user input detector 104 candetermine a surface area affected (i.e., touched) by a user interactionto distinguish between a single finger tap or double or triple fingertap. In any event, user input detector 104 can detect and identify userinteractions and perform an action based on which user interaction orgesture is detected or identified.

Another feature of the content management system 100 is illustrated inFIGS. 8A and 8B. In FIG. 8A, view area 204 of selection graphical userinterface 306 displays a gallery of content items 208. The top row ofthe gallery displays content items 208 a, 208 g, 208 h that are similaror are duplicates. Similar or duplicate files may exist as the result ofphotographs taken in “burst mode”, where multiple photographs are takenin quick succession (e.g., twelve photographs taken per second). Userinterface provider 102 displays duplicate content items in selectiongraphical user interface 306 so that a user may inspect and select asingle content item that best captures the desired content. For example,in a set of twelve photographs taken of a group of individual in onesecond, there may be only one photograph out of the twelve whereeveryone in the group has their eyes open. In timeline graphical userinterface 206 (FIG. 8B) or other content graphical user interfaces,however, duplicates do not need to be displayed since individual contentitems typically are not selected from content graphical user interfaces.Accordingly, and as illustrated in FIG. 8B, when user interface provider102 provides view area 204 in timeline graphical user interface 206,similar or duplicates content item 208 g, 208 h are not displayed.

In one or more alternative embodiments, user interface provider 102 maygroup duplicate content items in a folder displayed as part of thegallery of content items. The user interface provider 102 can indicatethe folder using a content item 208 included in the folder and an iconindicating the number of content items in the folder. User inputdetector 104 may detect a touch gesture (e.g., a press-and-hold touchgesture) affecting the folder. In a particular embodiment, when userinput detector 104 reports the touch gesture to user interface provider102, user interface provider 102 may display an exploded view of thefolder. In other words, the user interface provider 102 can expand oropen the folder and display can display each of the content items in thefolder. Additionally, when user input detector 104 detects a long touch,a pinch in, or other predetermined touch gesture, the user interfaceprovider 102 can collapse the expanded or exploded view of the folder.

In yet another alternative embodiment, user interface provider 102 maygroup content items in a folder based on other criteria. For example,user interface provider 102 may group content items in a folder based onthe content items being created on the same date. In particular, userinterface provider 102 may group photographs that were taken on the samedate into a folder. Alternately, user interface provider 102 may groupphotographs based on whether the photographs were taken at the samegeographic location, taken by the same person, taken featuring the sameperson/people, taken featuring the same landmark, or any other criteriasuitable for grouping photographs.

FIGS. 1-8B, the corresponding text, and the examples, provide a numberof different systems and devices for interacting with content items viaa graphical user interface. In addition to the foregoing, embodiments ofthe present invention can also be described in terms of flowchartscomprising acts and steps in a method for accomplishing a particularresult. For example, FIGS. 9-11 illustrate flowcharts of exemplarymethods in accordance with one or more embodiments of the presentinvention. The methods described in relation to FIGS. 9-11 may beperformed with less or more steps/acts or the steps/acts may beperformed in differing orders. Additionally, the steps/acts describedherein may be repeated or performed in parallel with one another or inparallel with different instances of the same or similar steps/acts.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart of one example method 900 of selectingmultiple content items via a single user interaction or touch gesture.The method 900 includes an act 902 of providing a selection graphicaluser interface. In particular, act 902 can involve providing a selectiongraphical user interface 306 comprising content items 208. For example,act 902 can involve providing a plurality of thumbnail images. Contentitems 208 in the selection graphical user interface 306 are selectableand each include a selection state that is either selected orunselected. Act 902 can further involve indicating each selectablecontent item with an associated selection indicator 314 a, 314 bindicating whether the associated content item is selected or not.

Method 900 further includes an act 904 of detecting a user interactionthat affects content items. In particular, act 904 can includedetecting, by at least one processor, a user interaction 514, 614 withinthe selection graphical user interface 306 that affects a plurality ofcontent items 208 a-208 c, 208 d-208 f For example, act 904 can involvedetecting a touch gesture 514, 614 on a touch screen 202 displaying theselection graphical user interface 306. For example, act 904 can involvedetecting a swipe gesture 514, 614 that touches more than one contentitem 208 a-208 c, 208 d-208 f. Detecting a swipe gesture 514, 614 caninvolve detecting a horizontal swipe, a vertical swipe, a diagonalswipe, or a swipe that combines horizontal, vertical, and/or diagonalmovements.

In addition, method 900 further includes an act 906 of changing theselection state of the one or more of the affected content items. Inparticular, act 906 can include inverting the selection state of each ofthe plurality of content items 208 a-208 c, 208 d-208 f affected by thedetected user interaction 514, 614. For example, act 906 can involveinverting a selection state from unselected to selected or from selectedto unselected.

Alternatively, act 906 can involve causing the selection state of eachof the plurality of content items 208 a-208 c, 208 d-208 f affected bythe detected user interaction 514, 614 to match a selection state of afirst content item affected by the detected user interaction 514, 614.Still further act 906 can involve causing the selection state of each ofthe plurality of content items 208 a-208 c, 208 d-208 f affected by thedetected user interaction 514, 614 to a select state. Thus, act 906 caninvolve changing the selection state of unselected content itemsaffected by the detected user interaction 514, 614 to a selected state.Similarly, act 906 can involve maintaining the selection state ofselected content items affected by the detected user interaction 514,614 as selected.

Act 906 can further involve updating the selection indicator 314 a, 314b of each of the plurality of content items 208 a-208 c, 208 d-208 faffected by the detected user interaction 514, 614 as the selectionstate of each of the plurality of content items 208 a-208 c, 208 d-208 fis inverted. In other words, if the selection state of the affectedcontent item is being inverted to a selected state, act 906 can involveadding a checkmark 314 b to a content item 208. If the selection stateof the affected content item is being inverted to an unselected state,act 906 can involve removing a checkmark 314 b from a content item 208.

FIG. 10 illustrates a flowchart of a method 1000 of maintainingselection states of content items during transitions between view oruser interfaces. As shown, method 1000 can include an act 1002 ofproviding a selection graphical user interface with selected contentitems. In particular, the act 1002 can include providing a selectiongraphical user interface 306 comprising a plurality of content items208, wherein one or more content items 208 of the plurality of contentitems is in a selected state. Content items 208 can be selectable orun-selectable by a first type of user interaction. For example, act 1002can involve providing a plurality of thumbnail images in a view area 204of a touch screen 202 of a computing device 200.

Act 1002 can involve detecting a first type of user interaction on acontent item(s) 208, such as a tap or swipe received via a touch screen.Act 1002 can also involve updating a selection state of the contentitem(s) 208 affected by the tap or swipe. Act 1002 can additionallyinvolve updating a selection indicator 314 a, 314 b of the contentitem(s) 208 affected by the tap or swipe. In particular, act 1002 caninvolve changing the content item(s) 208 affected by the tap or swipefrom an un-selected state to a selected state in response to detectingthe first type of user interaction with the content item(s).

The method 1000 can also include an act 1004 of detecting a userinteraction affecting a content item. In particular, the act 1004 caninclude detecting, by at least one processor, a second type of userinteraction with a content item 208 a of the plurality of content items208. For example, act 1004 can involve detecting a press-and-hold oncontent item 208 a. Act 1004 can also involve detecting a duration ofthe press and hold.

The method 1000 can also include an act 1006 of transitioning to anenlarged view 211 of the affected content item 208 a. In particular, theact 1006 can include transitioning from the selection graphical userinterface 306 to an enlarged view 211 of the content item 208 a upondetecting the second type of user interaction with the content item 208a. For example, act 1006 can involve maintaining the enlarged view 211of the content item 208 a during the duration of the press and hold.Alternatively, act 1006 can involve presenting an enlarged view 211 ofthe affected content item 208 a upon detecting a spread gesture appliedto the content item 208 a.

The method 1000 can also include an act 1008 of transitioning from theenlarged view 211 of the content item 208 a to the selection graphicaluser interface 306. For example, act 1008 can involve transitioning fromthe enlarged view 211 of the content item 208 a to the selectiongraphical user interface 306 upon the duration of the press and holdending.

The method 1000 can also include an act 1010 of maintaining the selectedcontent items within the selection graphical user interface. Inparticular, act 1010 can include maintaining the one or more contentitems in the selected state during transitioning between the selectiongraphical user interface 306 and the enlarged view 211 of the contentitem 208 a. For example, act 1010 can involve displaying a selectionindicator 314 b in connection which each content item 208 that was in aselected state prior to transitioning from the selection graphical userinterface 306 to enlarged view 211 of the content item 208 a.

FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart of another example method 1100 ofproviding a preview of a content item or a selection user interfacebased on user interactions with a content item. As shown, method 1100can include an act 1102 of providing a content graphical user interface206, 406. In particular, act 1102 may include providing a contentgraphical user interface 206, 406 comprising a plurality of contentitems 208, such as thumbnail images.

The method 1100 can also include an act 1104 of providing an enlargedview 211 of a content item 208 a upon a first type of user interaction.In particular, act 1104 can include providing an enlarged view 211 of acontent item 208 a of the plurality of content items upon detecting, byat least one processor, a first user interaction with the content item208 a. For example, act 1004 can involve detecting a tap or spread on acontent item 208 a received via a touch screen and presenting anenlarged view 211 of the content item 208 a affected by the tap orspread.

The method 1100 can also include an act 1106 of transitioning from thecontent graphical user interface to a selection graphical user interfaceupon a second type of user interaction. In particular, act 1106 caninclude transitioning from the content graphical user interface 206, 406to a selection graphical user interface 306 upon detecting, by the atleast one processor, a second type of user interaction with the contentitem 208 a. When in the selection user interface 306, content items areselectable or un-selectable by one or more user interactions in theselection graphical user interface. For example, act 1106 can involvedetecting a press-and-hold gesture received via a touch screen 202. Upondetecting a press-and-hold gesture, act 1006 can involve transitioningfrom a content user interface 206, 406 in which content items 208 arenot selectable to a selection user interface 306 in which content items208 are selectable. Act 1106 can further involve providing a pulseanimation during the transition from the content graphical userinterface 206, 406 to the selection graphical user interface 306.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may comprise or utilize a specialpurpose or general-purpose computer including computer hardware, suchas, for example, one or more processors and system memory, as discussedin greater detail below. Embodiments within the scope of the presentdisclosure also include physical and other computer-readable media forcarrying or storing computer-executable instructions and/or datastructures. In particular, one or more of the processes described hereinmay be implemented at least in part as instructions embodied in anon-transitory computer-readable medium and executable by one or morecomputing devices (e.g., any of the media content access devicesdescribed herein). In general, a processor (e.g., a microprocessor)receives instructions, from a non-transitory computer-readable medium,(e.g., a memory, etc.), and executes those instructions, therebyperforming one or more processes, including one or more of the processesdescribed herein.

Computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessedby a general purpose or special purpose computer system.Computer-readable media that store computer-executable instructions arenon-transitory computer-readable storage media (devices).Computer-readable media that carry computer-executable instructions aretransmission media. Thus, by way of example, and not limitation,embodiments of the disclosure can comprise at least two distinctlydifferent kinds of computer-readable media: non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media (devices) and transmission media.

Non-transitory computer-readable storage media (devices) includes RAM,ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM, solid state drives (“SSDs”) (e.g., based on RAM),Flash memory, phase-change memory (“PCM”), other types of memory, otheroptical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storagedevices, or any other medium which can be used to store desired programcode means in the form of computer-executable instructions or datastructures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or specialpurpose computer.

A “network” is defined as one or more data links that enable thetransport of electronic data between computer systems and/or modulesand/or other electronic devices. When information is transferred orprovided over a network or another communications connection (eitherhardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to acomputer, the computer properly views the connection as a transmissionmedium. Transmissions media can include a network and/or data linkswhich can be used to carry desired program code means in the form ofcomputer-executable instructions or data structures and which can beaccessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. Combinationsof the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

Further, upon reaching various computer system components, program codemeans in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structurescan be transferred automatically from transmission media tonon-transitory computer-readable storage media (devices) (or viceversa). For example, computer-executable instructions or data structuresreceived over a network or data link can be buffered in RAM within anetwork interface module (e.g., a “NIC”), and then eventuallytransferred to computer system RAM and/or to less volatile computerstorage media (devices) at a computer system. Thus, it should beunderstood that non-transitory computer-readable storage media (devices)can be included in computer system components that also (or evenprimarily) utilize transmission media.

Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions anddata which, when executed at a processor, cause a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing deviceto perform a certain function or group of functions. In someembodiments, computer-executable instructions are executed on a generalpurpose computer to turn the general purpose computer into a specialpurpose computer implementing elements of the disclosure. The computerexecutable instructions may be, for example, binaries, intermediateformat instructions such as assembly language, or even source code.Although the subject matter has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understoodthat the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the described features or acts described above.Rather, the described features and acts are disclosed as example formsof implementing the claims.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosure may bepracticed in network computing environments with many types of computersystem configurations, including, personal computers, desktop computers,laptop computers, message processors, hand-held devices, multi-processorsystems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics,network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, mobile telephones,PDAs, tablets, pagers, routers, switches, and the like. The disclosuremay also be practiced in distributed system environments where local andremote computer systems, which are linked (either by hardwired datalinks, wireless data links, or by a combination of hardwired andwireless data links) through a network, both perform tasks. In adistributed system environment, program modules may be located in bothlocal and remote memory storage devices.

Embodiments of the present disclosure can also be implemented in cloudcomputing environments. In this description, “cloud computing” isdefined as a model for enabling on-demand network access to a sharedpool of configurable computing resources. For example, cloud computingcan be employed in the marketplace to offer ubiquitous and convenienton-demand access to the shared pool of configurable computing resources.The shared pool of configurable computing resources can be rapidlyprovisioned via virtualization and released with low management effortor service provider interaction, and then scaled accordingly.

A cloud-computing model can be composed of various characteristics suchas, for example, on-demand self-service, broad network access, resourcepooling, rapid elasticity, measured service, and so forth. Acloud-computing model can also expose various service models, such as,for example, Software as a Service (“SaaS”), Platform as a Service(“PaaS”), and Infrastructure as a Service (“IaaS”). A cloud-computingmodel can also be deployed using different deployment models such asprivate cloud, community cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud, and soforth. In this description and in the claims, a “cloud-computingenvironment” is an environment in which cloud computing is employed.

FIG. 12 illustrates a block diagram of exemplary computing device 1200that may be configured to perform one or more of the processes describedabove. One will appreciate that user interface system 100 may beimplemented by one or more computing devices such as computing device1200. As shown by FIG. 12, computing device 1200 can comprise processor1202, memory 1204, storage device 1206, I/O interface 1208, andcommunication interface 1210, which may be communicatively coupled byway of communication infrastructure 1212. While an exemplary computingdevice 1200 is shown in FIG. 12, the components illustrated in FIG. 12are not intended to be limiting. Additional or alternative componentsmay be used in other embodiments. Furthermore, in certain embodiments,computing device 1200 can include fewer components than those shown inFIG. 12. Components of computing device 1200 shown in FIG. 12 will nowbe described in additional detail.

In particular embodiments, processor 1202 includes hardware forexecuting instructions, such as those making up a computer program. Asan example and not by way of limitation, to execute instructions,processor 1202 may retrieve (or fetch) the instructions from an internalregister, an internal cache, memory 1204, or storage device 1206 anddecode and execute them. In particular embodiments, processor 1202 mayinclude one or more internal caches for data, instructions, oraddresses. As an example and not by way of limitation, processor 1202may include one or more instruction caches, one or more data caches, andone or more translation lookaside buffers (TLBs). Instructions in theinstruction caches may be copies of instructions in memory 1204 orstorage 1206.

Memory 1204 may be used for storing data, metadata, and programs forexecution by the processor(s). Memory 1204 may include one or more ofvolatile and non-volatile memories, such as Random Access Memory(“RAM”), Read Only Memory (“ROM”), a solid state disk (“SSD”), Flash,Phase Change Memory (“PCM”), or other types of data storage. Memory 1204may be internal or distributed memory.

Storage device 1206 includes storage for storing data or instructions.As an example and not by way of limitation, storage device 1206 cancomprise a non-transitory storage medium described above. Storage device1206 may include a hard disk drive (HDD), a floppy disk drive, flashmemory, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc, magnetic tape, or aUniversal Serial Bus (USB) drive or a combination of two or more ofthese. Storage device 1206 may include removable or non-removable (orfixed) media, where appropriate. Storage device 1206 may be internal orexternal to computing device 1200. In particular embodiments, storagedevice 1206 is non-volatile, solid-state memory. In other embodiments,Storage device 1206 includes read-only memory (ROM). Where appropriate,this ROM may be mask programmed ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasablePROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), electricallyalterable ROM (EAROM), or flash memory or a combination of two or moreof these.

I/O interface 1208 allows a user to provide input to, receive outputfrom, and otherwise transfer data to and receive data from computingdevice 1200. I/O interface 1208 may include a mouse, a keypad or akeyboard, a touch screen, a camera, an optical scanner, networkinterface, modem, other known I/O devices or a combination of such I/Ointerfaces. I/O interface 1208 may include one or more devices forpresenting output to a user, including, but not limited to, a graphicsengine, a display (e.g., a display screen), one or more output drivers(e.g., display drivers), one or more audio speakers, and one or moreaudio drivers. In certain embodiments, I/O interface 1208 is configuredto provide graphical data to a display for presentation to a user. Thegraphical data may be representative of one or more graphical userinterfaces and/or any other graphical content as may serve a particularimplementation.

Communication interface 1210 can include hardware, software, or both. Inany event, communication interface 1210 can provide one or moreinterfaces for communication (such as, for example, packet-basedcommunication) between computing device 1200 and one or more othercomputing devices or networks. As an example and not by way oflimitation, communication interface 1210 may include a network interfacecontroller (NIC) or network adapter for communicating with an Ethernetor other wire-based network or a wireless NIC (WNIC) or wireless adapterfor communicating with a wireless network, such as a WI-FI.

Additionally or alternatively, communication interface 1210 mayfacilitate communications with an ad hoc network, a personal areanetwork (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), ametropolitan area network (MAN), or one or more portions of the Internetor a combination of two or more of these. One or more portions of one ormore of these networks may be wired or wireless. As an example,communication interface 1210 may facilitate communications with awireless PAN (WPAN) (such as, for example, a BLUETOOTH WPAN), a WI-FInetwork, a WI-MAX network, a cellular telephone network (such as, forexample, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network), orother suitable wireless network or a combination thereof.

Additionally, communication interface 1210 may facilitate communicationsvarious communication protocols. Examples of communication protocolsthat may be used include, but are not limited to, data transmissionmedia, communications devices, Transmission Control Protocol (“TCP”),Internet Protocol (“IP”), File Transfer Protocol (“FTP”), Telnet,Hypertext Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”), Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure(“HTTPS”), Session Initiation Protocol (“SIP”), Simple Object AccessProtocol (“SOAP”), Extensible Mark-up Language (“XML”) and variationsthereof, Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (“SMTP”), Real-Time TransportProtocol (“RTP”), User Datagram Protocol (“UDP”), Global System forMobile Communications (“GSM”) technologies, Code Division MultipleAccess (“CDMA”) technologies, Time Division Multiple Access (“TDMA”)technologies, Short Message Service (“SMS”), Multimedia Message Service(“MMS”), radio frequency (“RF”) signaling technologies, Long TermEvolution (“LTE”) technologies, wireless communication technologies,in-band and out-of-band signaling technologies, and other suitablecommunications networks and technologies.

Communication infrastructure 1212 may include hardware, software, orboth that couples components of computing device 1200 to each other. Asan example and not by way of limitation, communication infrastructure1212 may include an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) or other graphicsbus, an Enhanced Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, a front-sidebus (FSB), a HYPERTRANSPORT (HT) interconnect, an Industry StandardArchitecture (ISA) bus, an INFINIBAND interconnect, a low-pin-count(LPC) bus, a memory bus, a Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, aPeripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, a PCI-Express (PCIe) bus, aserial advanced technology attachment (SATA) bus, a Video ElectronicsStandards Association local (VLB) bus, or another suitable bus or acombination thereof.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an online content managementsystem 1302 that can work in conjunction with content management system100. Online content management system 1302 may generate, store, manage,receive, and send digital content items. For example, online contentmanagement system 1302 may send and receive content items 208 to andfrom client devices 1306 by way of network 1304. In particular, onlinecontent management system 302 can store and manage a collection ofcontent items. Online content management system 1302 can manage thesharing of content items between computing devices associated with aplurality of users. For instance, online content management system 1302can facilitate a user sharing a content item with another user of thecontent management system 100.

In particular, online content management system 1302 can managesynchronizing content items across multiple client devices 1306associated with one or more users. For example, user may edit a contentitem using client devices 1306. The online content management system1302 can cause client device 1306 to send the edited content item toonline content management system 1302. Online content management system1302 then synchronizes the edited content item on one or more additionalcomputing devices.

In addition to synchronizing content items across multiple devices, oneor more embodiments of the online content management system 1302 canprovide an efficient storage option for users that have largecollections (e.g., galleries) of content items. For example, the onlinecontent management system 1302 can store a collection of content items,while the client device 1306 only stores reduced-sized versions of thecontent items. A user can navigate and browse the reduced-sized versions(e.g., thumbnail images of photos) of the content items on client device1306. In particular, one way in which a user can experience contentitems is to browse the reduced-sized versions of the content items onclient device 1306. Online content management system 1302 may store anynumber of reduced size versions (e.g., thumbnails) of digital contentitems and provide them to client device 1306 at a suitable time (e.g.,to allow client device 1306 to emphasize one or more digital contentitems within a graphical user interface).

Client device 1306 may be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, atablet computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), an in- orout-of-car navigation system, a handheld device, a smart phone or othercellular or mobile phone, or a mobile gaming device, other mobiledevice, or other suitable computing devices. Client device 1306 mayexecute one or more client applications, such as a web browser (e.g.,Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari,Google Chrome, Opera, etc.) or a native or special-purpose clientapplication (e.g., Application for iPhone or iPad or for Android, etc.),to access and view content over network 1304.

Network 1304 may represent a network or collection of networks (such asthe Internet, a corporate intranet, a virtual private network (VPN), alocal area network (LAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), acellular network, a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network(MAN), or a combination of two or more such networks) over which clientdevices 1306 may access online content management system 1302.

In the foregoing specification, the present disclosure has beendescribed with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof.Various embodiments and aspects of the present disclosure(s) aredescribed with reference to details discussed herein, and theaccompanying drawings illustrate the various embodiments. Thedescription above and drawings are illustrative of the disclosure andare not to be construed as limiting the disclosure. Numerous specificdetails are described to provide a thorough understanding of variousembodiments of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. For example, the methods described herein may beperformed with less or more steps/acts or the steps/acts may beperformed in differing orders. Additionally, the steps/acts describedherein may be repeated or performed in parallel with one another or inparallel with different instances of the same or similar steps/acts. Thescope of the present application is, therefore, indicated by theappended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changesthat come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims areto be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: providing, for presentationto a user, a plurality of content items arranged in a plurality of rowswithin a graphical user interface, wherein each content item comprises aselection state that indicates whether each content item is selected orunselected; detecting a touch gesture with respect to the graphical userinterface; based on detecting the touch gesture, determining: the touchgesture corresponds to a first plurality of content items within a firstrow of the plurality of rows and a second plurality of content itemswithin a second row of the plurality of rows; and the touch gesture isassociated with a direction; changing, by at least one processor, theselection state of the first plurality of content items and the secondplurality of content items based on the touch gesture corresponding tothe first plurality of content items and the second plurality of contentitems while scrolling the plurality of content items through thegraphical user interface based on the direction associated with thetouch gesture; detecting a second touch gesture with respect to aparticular content item during the first gesture; and based on detectingthe second touch gesture, enlarging the particular content item whilemaintaining the selection state of the first plurality of content itemsand the second plurality of content items.
 2. The method as recited inclaim 1, further comprising modifying a selection state indicatorassociated with each of the first plurality of content items and each ofthe second plurality of content items.
 3. The method as recited in claim1, wherein detecting the touch gesture further comprises detecting aswipe gesture along a touch screen that touches each of the firstplurality of content items and each of the second plurality of contentitems in the plurality of rows.
 4. The method as recited in recited inclaim 3, wherein the swipe gesture comprises an S-shaped swipe.
 5. Themethod as recited in claim 1, further comprising updating a selectionindicator for each of the first plurality of content items and each ofthe second plurality of content items based on changing the selectionstate of the first plurality of content items and the second pluralityof content items.
 6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein detectingthe touch gesture comprises detecting a swipe gesture that extendsacross a portion of the first row comprising the first plurality ofcontent items.
 7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein detectingthe touch gesture further comprises detecting the swipe gesture movesfrom the first row to the second row.
 8. The method as recited inrecited in claim 7, wherein detecting the touch gesture furthercomprises detecting the swipe gesture extends across a portion of thesecond row comprising the second plurality of content items.
 9. Themethod as recited in claim 1, further comprising: identifying a firstcontent item with which the touch gesture touches; and determining theselection state of the first content item after the touch gesturetouches the first content item.
 10. The method of claim 9, whereinchanging the selection state of the first plurality of content items andthe second plurality of content items comprises causing the selectionstate of each of the first plurality of content items and each of thesecond plurality of content items to match the determined selectionstate of the first content item.
 11. A system comprising: at least oneprocessor; and at least one non-transitory computer readable mediumcomprising instructions that, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, cause the system to: provide, for presentation to a user, aplurality of content items arranged in a plurality of rows within agraphical user interface, wherein each content item comprises aselection state that indicates whether each content item is selected orunselected; detect a first touch gesture with respect to the graphicaluser interface; based on detecting the touch gesture, determine: thefirst touch gesture corresponds to a first plurality of content itemswithin a first row of the plurality of rows and a second plurality ofcontent items within a second row of the plurality of rows; and thetouch gesture is associated with a direction; change the selection stateof the first plurality of content items and the second plurality ofcontent items based on the first touch gesture corresponding to thefirst plurality of content times and the second plurality of contentitems while scrolling the plurality of content items through thegraphical user interface based on the direction associated with thetouch gesture; detect a second touch gesture with respect to aparticular content item during the first gesture; and based on detectingthe second touch gesture, enlarge the particular content item whilemaintaining the selection state of the first plurality of content itemsand the second plurality of content items.
 12. The system of claim 11,further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, cause the system to, in response to detecting the secondtouch gesture, maintain the selection state of the particular contentitem.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein: the first touch gesturecomprises a swipe gesture; and the second touch gesture comprises apinch gesture.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein the graphical userinterface presents the content items as thumbnail images within a gridarrangement.
 15. The system of claim 11, further comprising instructionsthat, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system toprovide one of a first selection indicator or a second selectionindicator in connection with each content item of the plurality ofcontent items, wherein the first selection indicator identifies that anassociated content item is in a selected state and the second selectionindicator identifies that an associated content item is in anun-selected state.
 16. The system of claim 11, further comprisinginstructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causethe system to update a selection indicator for each of the firstplurality of content items and each of the second plurality of contentitems based on changing the selection state of the first plurality ofcontent items and the second plurality of content items.
 17. Anon-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that,when executed by at least one processor, cause a computer system to:provide, for presentation to a user, a plurality of content itemsarranged in a plurality of rows within a graphical user interface,wherein each content item comprises a selection state that indicateswhether each content item is selected or unselected; detect a firsttouch gesture with respect to the graphical user interface; based ondetecting the touch gesture, determine: the first touch gesturecorresponds to a first plurality of content items within a first row ofthe plurality of rows and a second plurality of content items within asecond row of the plurality of rows; and the touch gesture is associatedwith a direction; change the selection state of the first plurality ofcontent items and the second plurality of content items based on thefirst touch gesture corresponding to the first plurality of contenttimes and the second plurality of content items while scrolling theplurality of content items through the graphical user interface based onthe direction associated with the touch gesture; detect a second touchgesture with respect to a particular content item during the firstgesture; and based on detecting the second touch gesture, enlarge theparticular content item while maintaining the selection state of thefirst plurality of content items and the second plurality of contentitems.
 18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprisinginstructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causethe computer system to: identify a first content item with which thetouch gesture touches; and determine the selection state of the firstcontent item after the touch gesture touches the first content item. 19.The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein changing the selectionstate of the first plurality of content items and the second pluralityof content items comprises causing the selection state of each of thefirst plurality of content items and each of the second plurality ofcontent items to match the determined selection state of the firstcontent item.
 20. The computer readable medium of claim 17, furthercomprising instructions that, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, cause the computer system to update a selection indicator foreach of the first plurality of content items and each of the secondplurality of content items based on changing the selection state of thefirst plurality of content items and the second plurality of contentitems.